The Varanasi district court on Wednesday asked both Hindu and Muslim sides to refrain from any kind of media interaction related to the ongoing Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey inside the Gyanvapi mosque premises.
The verbal orders of the court came during the hearing of a plea that sought a direction to restrain the electronic and print media from publishing “false news” about the ASI survey filed by the Anjum Intezamia mosque committee that manages the Gyanvapi mosque.
The mosque committee on Wednesday also approached the district court seeking to immediately stop the ASI survey of the mosque on the grounds that the Hindu plaintiffs have failed to deposit the money to bear expenses for the survey, after the court ordered the survey on July 21. The Hindu petitioners will file their reply to this application on August 17.
During arguments on Wednesday, the counsels of the mosque committee maintained that the ASI or its officials have not made any statement related to the ongoing survey but media is arbitrarily spreading “fake” news related to the survey. The petitioners also said that the kind of media coverage being done over the survey may impact peace and law and order in the areas near the mosque.
“This kind of reporting is leaving a wrong impact on the public and enmity is spreading,” the application said.
Advocate Saurabh Tiwari, appearing for one of the Hindu plaintiffs Rakhi Singh, told The Hindu that the court orally asked counsels and petitioners of both sides to refrain from speaking to media pertaining to the ASI survey.
The same was confirmed by advocate Merajuddin Siddiqui and Mumtaz Ahmed representing the mosque committee. They added that a detailed court order was being awaited.
Also, in a written reply opposing an application by Ms. Singh to seal the mosque, the mosque committee maintained that if such an order is passed, it would cause hindrance to the common Muslims performing religious activities inside the mosque.
Speaking to The Hindu, a senior member of the mosque committee said that the ASI is quietly doing the task given to it and the committee is supporting it in all possible ways.
The ASI is presently conducting a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex on the orders of Varanasi district court which was not stayed by both the Allahabad High Court and the Supreme court. The aim of the survey is to determine if the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.
